HELENA, Mont. - Carroll College women's basketball fell to Montana Western 51-42 after a second-half surge by the Bulldogs. The loss closes out the regular season, but the Saints will be back at the PE Center next Saturday to face the lowest remaining seed after a first-round bye in the conference tournament. 

Saturday's game was a struggle from the tip for both teams. The Carroll women were just 15-43 (34.9 percent) from the field while Western was 15-46 (32.6 percent) from the field. 

The two teams battled to an 8-8 tie after the first quarter before Western took a 19-18 lead into the half. The Saints took a 29-28 lead with 37 left in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs closed the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 33-29 lead into the fourth.

Western led 38-35 with 5:43 to play but closed on a 13-7 run to earn the nine-point win.

UMW is now 13-5 in Frontier play, a game back of the Saints at 14-4. The one game makes a big difference. The Saints will get a full week of rest while the Bulldogs prep for MSU-Northern. 

Senior Bailey Pasta led the Saints 11 points. Hannah Dean tallied nine points and 11 rebounds. 

Brianna King led all scorers with 20 points, and Paige Holmes added 14 for the Bulldogs.